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Aenictus dirangensis
| Aenictus dirangensis | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Dorylinae |
| Genus: | Aenictus |
| Species group: | ceylonicus |
| Species: | A. dirangensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Aenictus dirangensis Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023 | |
The only known specimens of this Indian species were manually collected from beneath a stone in Dirang village falling in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. The village is situated at an elevation of 1560 meters, with an average daily temperature of 20˚C. The ground is covered with grass and surrounded by Kiwi plantation.
Photo Gallery
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Identification
Dhadwal & Bharti (2023) - A member of the ceylonicus species group. Aenictus dirangensis shows similarities with Aenictus yangi, Aenictus wilaiae and Aenictus khaoyaiensis.
It can be differentiated from A. yangi on the basis of following characteristics:
- the subpetiolar process in Aenictus yangi is elongate, subrectangular, and slightly projecting anteroventrally (well developed and subrectangular with anterior and posterior corners acutely or bluntly angular in A. dirangensis)
- in Aenictus yangi the dorsal face of the propodeum is mostly smooth and shiny and the lateral face is partly smooth and shiny whereas (dorsal face of the propodeum has transverse striation and the lateral face is reticulated in A. dirangensis)
- in A. yangi lateral propodeal margins gently sloping posteriorly (lateral propodeal margins converge more sharply posteriorly in A. dirangensis)
- the relative width of the propodeal face seems narrower in A. yangi (the relative width of the propodeal face wider in A. dirangensis)
- postpetiole angular in lateral view in A. yangi (postpetiole convex in profile view in A. dirangensis)
- the metanotal groove is weakly impressed in A. yangi (distinct in A. dirangensis)
From A. wilaiae it can be differentiated based on following characteristics:
- in A. wilaiae promesonotal dorsum smooth and shiny except for anteriormost portion punctate (promesonotal dorsum entirely smooth and shiny in A. dirangensis)
- in A. wilaiae subpetiolar process generally very low, with its anteroventral corner angulate and ventral margin convex (well developed and subrectangular with acute anterior corners and blunt posterior corners in A. dirangensis)
- in A. wilaiae mesopleuron with longitudinal rugae, lateral face of propodeum with 2-3 short longitudinal rugae, petiole and postpetiole densely punctate (mesopleuron, lateral face of propodeum reticulate, petiole and postpetiole dorsum smooth with lateral faces moderately reticulated in A. dirangensis)
From A. khaoyaiensis it can be differentiated based on the following characteristics:
- in A. khaoyaiensis mandible with 0-1 tooth/denticle between subapical and basal teeth (mandible with 3-4 teeth/denticles) (Mandible with 2-6 teeth/denticles between subapical and basal teeth (mandible with more than 4 teeth/denticles) in A. dirangensis)
- subpetiolar process in A. khaoyaiensis is low, with its anteroventral corner angulate and ventral margin weakly convex (well developed and subrectangular with acute anterior corners and blunt posterior corners in A. dirangensis)
- in A. khaoyaiensis promesonotum smooth except for anteriormost portion punctate and mesopleuron with several irregular longitudinal rugae (promesonotum smooth and mesopleuron reticulated in A. dirangensis)
- mandibles striate in A. khaoyaiensis (in A. dirangensis mandibles smooth)
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Only known from the type locality.
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 27.4° to 27.4°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India (type locality).
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Countries Occupied
| Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species. |
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Estimated Abundance
| Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species. |
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Biology
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- dirangensis. Aenictus dirangensis Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023c: 390 (w.) INDIA (Arunchal Pradesh).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 14 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: India: Arunchal Pradesh, Dirang, 27.3566°N, 92.23720°E, 1560 m., 3.ix.2019 (T. Dhadwal); paratypes with same data.
- Type-depository: PUAC.
- Distribution: India.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Holotype: HL 0.54; HW 0.46; WL 0.78; SL 0.36; PL 0.24; PH 0.19; PPl 0.20; PPH 0.18; GL 0.80; SI 78.26; CI 85.18; CSR; SIW 16.56; SIL 66.66; PPI 90.00; PI 79.16.
Paratypes (n=10): HL 0.52-0.56; HW 0.42-0.48; WL 0.76-0.82; SL 0.36-0.40; PL 0.22-0.26; PH 0.19-0.21; PPl 0.18-0.20; PPH 0.18-0.19; GL 0.78-0.82; SI 85.71-83.33; CI 80.76-85.71; CSR 109.58; SIW 85.71-83.33; SIL 69.23-71.42; PPI 95.00-100.00; PI 80.76-86.36.
Head in full-face view longer than broad, with convex lateral sides and weakly concave posterior margin. Antennal scape short, reaching mid-length of the head. Frontal carina comparatively long, extending beyond posterior margin of torulus. Parafrontal ridge absent. Anterior clypeal margin feebly concave medially; median portion of the margin meets the lateral portion forming blunt angle on each side. Masticatory margin, with a broad apical tooth, followed by medium-sized subapical tooth, 4 denticles, and smaller basal tooth; basal margin nearly straight. Maximum width of gap between anterior clypeal margin and mandibles 0.8 and 1.0 times broader than maximum width of mandible. Promesonotum in lateral view, convex and eventually slopes into distinct metanotal groove. Mesopleuron in lateral view moderately long, smooth median strip separates it from metapleuron. The metapleural gland bulla large, its maximum diameter is twice the distance between propodeal spiracle and metapleural gland bulla.
Propodeum in lateral view, with convex dorsal outline, converging more sharply posterad; propodeal corner angular, with distinct tooth. Propodeal declivity sinuous in lateral view. Petiole node as long as high with dorsal margin convex, subpetiolar process well developed and subrectangular with acute anterior corners and blunt posterior corners. Postpetiole shorter than petiole with convex dorsal outline.
Head, mandible and scape completely smooth and polished; mesopleuron, metapleuron, and lateral face of propodeum reticulate; promesonotum smooth and shiny; dorsal face of propodeum reticulate; with some transverse striations. Petiole and postpetiole dorsum smooth with lateral faces moderately reticulated.
Head, mesosoma dorsally with relatively sparse standing hairs mixed with sparse shorter hairs and legs with long sparse hairs. Head including antennal scape reddish-brown; mandible, mesosoma dark reddish-brown; petiole, postpetiole, gaster and legs yellowish-brown.
Type Material
- Holotype worker (PUAC—T 07), from India, Arunachal Pradesh, Dirang, 27.3566º N, 92.23720º E, 1560m, handpicking, 03.ix.2019, Tarun Dhadwal leg.
- Paratypes: Fourteen workers (PUAC-T 08-17), same data as holotype.
Etymology
The species has been named after the type locality.